Kimahri Ronso: Family.
Jun. 16th, 2006 01:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dagas_isaTitle: The Mountain's Children
Fandom: Final Fantasy X
Characters: Kimahri, The Ronso
Prompt: Family
Word Count: 1118
Rating: G
Summary: Kimahri comes home to his true family.
Author's Notes: Spoilers regarding the Ronso, nothing major though.
The Ronso emerge from their hiding places, still uncomfortable in their empty home. The mother, they say, has been raped by the Guado, and most of her precious children have been killed. What was once a sacred clan, thousands strong, now straggles along with a few hundred, those who managed to hide from Seymour and his subjects.
The habit that saved their lives however, makes it difficult for them to stand up and build anew. None of them care to admit their weakness, that fear holds them by their tails and makes them unable to act. To acknowledge their cowardice is the act of a Hornless, and even decimated enough Ronso pride exists to not become like their outcasts, still doing their dirty work in the heart of the mountain.
Not a one of them cares to think about the irony of the situation. The one they wait for, the one they count on, is one of those made Hornless. He accepted neither victory nor death, and so has fled in cowardice. Yet, the unease rises when they think of what this particular Hornless has done for Spira, and perhaps what he can do for the Ronso.
The wind carries his scent from a distant land. The oldest grandmothers, whose blurry eyes hide the keenest sense of smell say they can smell his Ronso-human scent, and even now the untrained warriors can tell that one of their own is returning home.
***
Kimahri never imagined coming home at all. Well, in his younger days, he fantasized while living on Besaid that he'd find some way to redeem himself, to take his place among the Ronso warriors, even with his shameful defeat against Biran. Fantasies aside though, he never imagined that he would actually be here with Gagazet's rocks beneath his feet preparing to face his kin once more.
Very few things scare Kimahri: the crying of the young, the scolding of the women, his own smiling, and the disapproval of his clan. He remembers how he left their hold, taking craven sanctuary in the embrace of a dying man to live in the world made for humans. Kimahri doesn't relish such a homecoming, but now that he has served his purpose, he cannot ignore his longing to return.
***
Barsa Ronso, mate of the late Elder Kelk Ronso and the sole pregnant female left among the Ronso clan waits at the entrance to the mountain trail. Until a new elder could be appointed, she stands up to greet the hornless who was now returning.
To her left are the females, the daughters still too young to mate, pups still needing the care of their grandmothers. To her right, the males, the past and future Ronso warriors stand, looking less prepared to welcome their errant brother. The eldest of the trainees, Garik seems the most hostile, crossing his arms and glaring towards the tunnel, where even now Kimahri was making his way.
The outcast steps past the barrier that isolates Gagazet from the rest of the world. To say the least Barsa isn't impressed with his looks or his stature. A runt who towers over no one but cubs, one who's horn-stub only comes to her eye-level, she has to fight the urge to hiss at him and order the warriors to drive him away.
Kimahri does nothing to relieve or provoke her anger. He merely looks down at his snow and allows Barsa and her folk to act first.
"What does the Hornless one have to say to the Ronso people?"
***
Attuned to the higher voices of human females, Kimahri feels somewhat put off by the Ronso woman's deep voice. He sees, smells, feels the uncertainty that comes from all of them. Kimahri is hornless, yet a hero. He deserves a welcome, yet cannot have honor. He knows their contradiction. To live among the people he spent his youth with, Kimahri must make them forget the mark of the outcast drawn so plainly on his face.
"Kimahri comes home." He answers simply. Further questions will reveal his story, as much of the story they want to hear. Ronso do not force unnecessary words or answer unspoken questions, regardless of whether they've lived a decade among the more communicative humans.
"Why did Kimahri leave the mountain. His brothers and sisters, his aunts, uncles, and grandmothers?" By honoring tradition, Kimahri gains the privilege to tell his story Ronso style.
"Kimahri promised Guardian to look after Summoner Yuna."
Barsa nods. "Kimahri guards Summoner Yuna for ten years. Kimahri stays away from mountain for ten years, lives among hornless weakling humans."
"Yuna cry and ask Kimahri to stay. Kimahri ashamed to admit weakness to Yuna's tears."
The hoarse huffing the passed for Ronso laughter rose through the onlookers. "Kimahri stays with Yuna, and now Kimahri went with Yuna on her pilgrimage across Spira?"
"Kimahri went with Yuna on her Pilgrimage across Spira."
"Did the Hornless one cower while the Summoner and her guardians fought?"
The key question there. Did Kimahri behave like a coward, or did he, even without the physical horn, still carry the mantle of Ronso pride. They would expect a roar of anger, boasting, bellowing. So Kimahri did what he must, and when he spoke he did so in a voice soft enough for the wind to overshadow it.
"Kimahri no longer young pup to brag achievements. Kimahri do what summoner Yuna ask, fight where summoner Yuna fight. Kimahri take care of Ronso problems and Ronso pride. Kimahri hornless, not coward."
After his speech, Kimahri looks around, at the sons and daughters, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. His peers, the brothers and sisters, and his leaders, the mothers and fathers, are gone now, exterminated by Seymour's genocide, but Kimahri knows they can rebuild their tribe now, if they focus on moving forward. He counts on it, and Barsa, the Ronso who questions Kimahri in place of an elder, understands this too.
***
Silence descends upon the Ronso. They must all know in their hearts whether to welcome their errant kinsman. There is no discussion, except those near-intuitive shifts of posture that indicate agreement or objection.
Barsa is the first to speak. "Welcome Kimahri, brother of the Ronso."
Others echo her, raising a paw to him in solidarity. A few, mainly the young warriors sore at being called pups, remained silent but didn't object.
And suddenly Kimahri is brought into the folds of his family, the Ronso, caught up in a tide of people, real people, touching and grooming, sniffing and shuffling, making pleased noises at his return. Until this moment, he's never realized how much he has missed this affection, and how much he now basks in its sunlight.
Fandom: Final Fantasy X
Characters: Kimahri, The Ronso
Prompt: Family
Word Count: 1118
Rating: G
Summary: Kimahri comes home to his true family.
Author's Notes: Spoilers regarding the Ronso, nothing major though.
The Ronso emerge from their hiding places, still uncomfortable in their empty home. The mother, they say, has been raped by the Guado, and most of her precious children have been killed. What was once a sacred clan, thousands strong, now straggles along with a few hundred, those who managed to hide from Seymour and his subjects.
The habit that saved their lives however, makes it difficult for them to stand up and build anew. None of them care to admit their weakness, that fear holds them by their tails and makes them unable to act. To acknowledge their cowardice is the act of a Hornless, and even decimated enough Ronso pride exists to not become like their outcasts, still doing their dirty work in the heart of the mountain.
Not a one of them cares to think about the irony of the situation. The one they wait for, the one they count on, is one of those made Hornless. He accepted neither victory nor death, and so has fled in cowardice. Yet, the unease rises when they think of what this particular Hornless has done for Spira, and perhaps what he can do for the Ronso.
The wind carries his scent from a distant land. The oldest grandmothers, whose blurry eyes hide the keenest sense of smell say they can smell his Ronso-human scent, and even now the untrained warriors can tell that one of their own is returning home.
***
Kimahri never imagined coming home at all. Well, in his younger days, he fantasized while living on Besaid that he'd find some way to redeem himself, to take his place among the Ronso warriors, even with his shameful defeat against Biran. Fantasies aside though, he never imagined that he would actually be here with Gagazet's rocks beneath his feet preparing to face his kin once more.
Very few things scare Kimahri: the crying of the young, the scolding of the women, his own smiling, and the disapproval of his clan. He remembers how he left their hold, taking craven sanctuary in the embrace of a dying man to live in the world made for humans. Kimahri doesn't relish such a homecoming, but now that he has served his purpose, he cannot ignore his longing to return.
***
Barsa Ronso, mate of the late Elder Kelk Ronso and the sole pregnant female left among the Ronso clan waits at the entrance to the mountain trail. Until a new elder could be appointed, she stands up to greet the hornless who was now returning.
To her left are the females, the daughters still too young to mate, pups still needing the care of their grandmothers. To her right, the males, the past and future Ronso warriors stand, looking less prepared to welcome their errant brother. The eldest of the trainees, Garik seems the most hostile, crossing his arms and glaring towards the tunnel, where even now Kimahri was making his way.
The outcast steps past the barrier that isolates Gagazet from the rest of the world. To say the least Barsa isn't impressed with his looks or his stature. A runt who towers over no one but cubs, one who's horn-stub only comes to her eye-level, she has to fight the urge to hiss at him and order the warriors to drive him away.
Kimahri does nothing to relieve or provoke her anger. He merely looks down at his snow and allows Barsa and her folk to act first.
"What does the Hornless one have to say to the Ronso people?"
***
Attuned to the higher voices of human females, Kimahri feels somewhat put off by the Ronso woman's deep voice. He sees, smells, feels the uncertainty that comes from all of them. Kimahri is hornless, yet a hero. He deserves a welcome, yet cannot have honor. He knows their contradiction. To live among the people he spent his youth with, Kimahri must make them forget the mark of the outcast drawn so plainly on his face.
"Kimahri comes home." He answers simply. Further questions will reveal his story, as much of the story they want to hear. Ronso do not force unnecessary words or answer unspoken questions, regardless of whether they've lived a decade among the more communicative humans.
"Why did Kimahri leave the mountain. His brothers and sisters, his aunts, uncles, and grandmothers?" By honoring tradition, Kimahri gains the privilege to tell his story Ronso style.
"Kimahri promised Guardian to look after Summoner Yuna."
Barsa nods. "Kimahri guards Summoner Yuna for ten years. Kimahri stays away from mountain for ten years, lives among hornless weakling humans."
"Yuna cry and ask Kimahri to stay. Kimahri ashamed to admit weakness to Yuna's tears."
The hoarse huffing the passed for Ronso laughter rose through the onlookers. "Kimahri stays with Yuna, and now Kimahri went with Yuna on her pilgrimage across Spira?"
"Kimahri went with Yuna on her Pilgrimage across Spira."
"Did the Hornless one cower while the Summoner and her guardians fought?"
The key question there. Did Kimahri behave like a coward, or did he, even without the physical horn, still carry the mantle of Ronso pride. They would expect a roar of anger, boasting, bellowing. So Kimahri did what he must, and when he spoke he did so in a voice soft enough for the wind to overshadow it.
"Kimahri no longer young pup to brag achievements. Kimahri do what summoner Yuna ask, fight where summoner Yuna fight. Kimahri take care of Ronso problems and Ronso pride. Kimahri hornless, not coward."
After his speech, Kimahri looks around, at the sons and daughters, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. His peers, the brothers and sisters, and his leaders, the mothers and fathers, are gone now, exterminated by Seymour's genocide, but Kimahri knows they can rebuild their tribe now, if they focus on moving forward. He counts on it, and Barsa, the Ronso who questions Kimahri in place of an elder, understands this too.
***
Silence descends upon the Ronso. They must all know in their hearts whether to welcome their errant kinsman. There is no discussion, except those near-intuitive shifts of posture that indicate agreement or objection.
Barsa is the first to speak. "Welcome Kimahri, brother of the Ronso."
Others echo her, raising a paw to him in solidarity. A few, mainly the young warriors sore at being called pups, remained silent but didn't object.
And suddenly Kimahri is brought into the folds of his family, the Ronso, caught up in a tide of people, real people, touching and grooming, sniffing and shuffling, making pleased noises at his return. Until this moment, he's never realized how much he has missed this affection, and how much he now basks in its sunlight.
